I laughed softly. “Of course you can. Do you have any ideas?”She tapped her chin, thinking very hard. “Hmm… if it’s a girl, you should name her Sarah. And if it’s a boy, you should name him…Rocket!”I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the name choices. “Sarah is very pretty. But Rocket? That’s a funny name.”She grinned proudly. “Because rockets are fast and strong! Your baby should be strong too.”I nodded, pretending to seriously think about it. “You make a good point. I’ll put Rocket on the list.”The little girl beamed like she just won a prize. “Okay! But I like Sarah more.”“Me too,” I whispered.For the next few minutes, she stayed by my side, telling me all about the orphanage, her friends, and even her favorite color (which was purple). She was so full of life and curiosity that I almost forgot about all my worries. Almost.“Do you have a mommy and daddy?” she asked suddenly.My smile faltered just a little. “I had a mommy,” I said softly. “But she’s not here anymore.”
“Do you always bring cookies when you visit?” I asked, smiling a little.That made her laugh softly. “Always. It’s our little tradition. They call me the ‘Cookie Queen.’”I laughed along with her, imagining all those kids chanting “Cookie Queen” the moment they saw her walk in.“They were so happy to see you,” I said. “It’s like you’re their favorite person in the world.”“Well,” Selene said with a playful smile, “when you bring cookies, it’s easy to be popular.”I leaned back in my seat, finally feeling relaxed. It had been a while since I’d laughed like this, and I was grateful for the moment.“Maybe next time, I can bake something too,” I offered. “I love baking.”Selene’s eyes lit up. “That would be wonderful! The kids would love that.”“It’s a deal then,” I grinned.Selene turned to her driver and said, “Take us to Poppy’s, please.”I looked at her in confusion. “Are we going for lunch?” I asked, tilting my head a little.Selene blinked at me, looking just as surprised. “Lunch? N
“I could help with that,” I said quickly, wanting to prove I belonged here. “Rhys knows a lot of local musicians. I could ask him when he gets back.”Poppy smiled. “That’s a great idea.”Zara made a sound like she was trying not to scoff, but I ignored her.Selene leaned toward me and whispered, “Good job.”That small bit of praise gave me a boost of confidence, and I sat up straighter in my chair.The meeting went on, with the women talking about everything from tablecloth colors to how many lights to hang in the trees. I took notes, writing down anything I thought I could help with. Even though Zara kept shooting me dirty looks, no one else seemed to mind me being there.After about an hour, Poppy looked at her watch. “Let’s take a quick break.”As soon as she said that, the ladies started chatting with each other, some pulling out their phones or digging in their purses for snacks.Selene turned to me and smiled. “You’re doing great, you know.”“Thanks,” I said shyly. “I just want
His hair was a little messy, like he’d been running his hands through it over and over. His black shirt was wrinkled, and his face looked serious, almost worried. For a moment, neither of us said anything. We just stood there, staring at each other.“Can I come in?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual.I swallowed and stepped aside. “Yeah, of course.”He walked in slowly, like he wasn’t sure if I really wanted him here. I closed the door and leaned against it, suddenly feeling nervous. My room felt smaller with him in it — or maybe he just felt larger, like he took up all the air.“Selene told me about what happened at the meeting,” Kai said, turning to face me. “I’m sorry.”“It’s okay,” I said quickly. “I’m used to Zara.”“That doesn’t make it okay,” he said, his jaw tightening. “You’re carrying my baby. You deserve respect.”I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just stared at the floor, tracing the pattern of the rug with my toe.The silence stretched too long, so I blurted ou
I looked down at my lap, twisting my fingers together. “I’m not scared of you,” I said, barely above a whisper. “I’m scared of… us.”Kai let out a slow breath, like he’d been holding something in. “Me too.”That made me look up. “Really?”He nodded, his hand still wrapped around my wrist. “This isn’t what I planned. I never thought…” He paused, struggling for words. “I never thought I’d care this much.”My heart skipped. “Care about what?”“You.” He said it so simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “And the baby. And what happens to us.”For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt too full, like my heart didn’t know where to go with all the feelings bursting inside me. “Kai…”He lifted my hand, the one he was still holding, and pressed it against his chest, right over his heart. It was beating fast — just like mine. “See?” he said softly. “You do this to me.”I couldn’t speak. My throat felt tight, so I just nodded, blinking back tears I didn’t even understand.T
I woke up the next morning feeling really sick. My stomach felt like it was twisting itself into knots, and my mouth tasted weird, like something sour. I groaned, pushing the blankets off me, and rushed out of bed. My feet hit the cold floor, but I didn’t even care. I ran straight into the bathroom, dropping to my knees in front of the toilet just in time to throw up.It was awful. My throat burned, my eyes watered, and I felt like my whole body was shaking. After I was done, I sat back on the cool bathroom tiles, breathing hard. “So this is morning sickness,” I mumbled to myself. “Great.”After a minute, I slowly stood up, feeling a little dizzy but not as sick anymore. I walked to the sink and turned on the tap, cupping my hands under the cold water to rinse my mouth. Then I grabbed my toothbrush and brushed my teeth, wanting to get rid of that awful taste.When I finished, I lifted my head and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess, and my skin looked a little pale, but
I looked up at him, surprised he even came looking for me. “Oh… I woke up feeling really nauseous, so I came down here to find something to eat. Margaret said crackers would help.”His expression changed immediately, full of concern. “Nauseous? Are you okay? Do you want me to call the pack doctor? Or—or take you to the clinic?”I shook my head, trying not to laugh at how serious he looked. “No, I promise it’s fine. It’s just morning sickness. It happens a lot when you’re pregnant.”He let out a breath like he had been holding it in. “Okay… but if it gets worse, you’ll tell me, right?”“Yeah,” I said softly, touched by how worried he was. “I will.”His eyes flicked to the crackers and water in front of me. “Do you want me to make you something else? Toast? Maybe some tea?”“Margaret’s taking good care of me,” I reassured him. “But thank you.”He hesitated for a second, like he wasn’t sure what to say next. Then he lifted
“Meredith!” I groaned louder, but I couldn’t help laughing too.Margaret slid a plate of pancakes in front of her daughter. “Enough teasing. Eat your breakfast before you’re late.”“Fine,” Meredith muttered, drowning her pancakes in syrup. “But seriously, ask him. I bet he’d say yes.”I played with the edge of my sleeve, pretending not to care. “We’ll see.”But deep down, the thought of walking with Kai made my heart race a little faster.After breakfast, I sat in the living room, holding my new phone in my hands. My fingers kept tracing the edges of it, my mind racing.Should I really ask Kai to go on a walk with me? Would that be weird? Would he think I was being clingy? Or maybe he’d say no because he was busy. He was the Alpha after all. But Margaret was right. It wasn’t safe for me to go walking alone, especially now that I was pregnant.I let out a long sigh and stood up, rubbing my hands on my dress to stop them from shaking. “Okay, Lily. Just ask. It’s not like you’re asking h
For a moment, I let myself just exist—no worries, no stress, no overwhelming thoughts—just the soft rustling of leaves from the potted plants by the window and the faint hum of the radio playing a soothing melody in the background. The shop was like a little haven, filled with vibrant colors and the earthy, floral scent that wrapped around me like a comforting blanket.I glanced around, my eyes drawn to the different flower arrangements that Elliot had set on the counter. Each bouquet seemed to tell a story—the elegant roses paired with delicate baby’s breath, the wild assortment of sunflowers mixed with daisies, and a more subtle blend of lavender and white lilies. I reached out to trace the petals of a daisy, my fingertip brushing the soft, velvety texture. The simple beauty of it made my heart feel lighter, even just a bit.I couldn’t help but let my mind wander, thinking of how I usually played it safe, always trying to make the right decisions. Maybe it was time to do something a
I looked down at the lily in my hand, turning it gently between my fingers. The petals felt so soft, almost like silk, and the delicate fragrance wrapped around me, calming my frayed nerves. I couldn’t help but smile a little. It was such a small, simple thing, but it made me feel a bit lighter, almost like I could breathe easier. For the first time that day, I felt like I wasn’t drowning in my thoughts.Lost in the softness of the petals, I barely noticed when Elliot moved closer until his warm hand gently covered mine, stilling my fingers. His touch was comforting—steady and gentle. I looked up, meeting his calm, reassuring gaze.“Hey,” he said softly, his voice soothing, like a balm to my wounded heart. He gave my hand a gentle squeeze, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Everything’s going to be alright. I promise. You don’t have to carry it all on your own.”His words were simple, but they carried a weight that made my chest feel a little less tight. I didn’t trust myself to sp
I jumped a little, startled, and turned around quickly. There stood Elliot, holding a single white lily in his hand, his lips curled into a warm, easygoing smile. My heartbeat quickened, but not in the anxious way it did with Kai. Instead, it was a comforting, gentle flutter, almost like a reminder that not everything was as heavy as it seemed. “Oh! I didn’t hear you come up,” I admitted, trying to hide my embarrassment. He chuckled, the sound light and pleasant. “Sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you,” he said, offering me the lily. His fingers brushed mine briefly, and I couldn’t help but notice how soft his touch was. “This one reminded me of you—beautiful and delicate.” My cheeks flushed, and I couldn’t help but smile as I took the flower from him. “Thank you. It’s really pretty.” Elliot’s curls were a little messy, probably from a busy morning moving flowers around. He looked effortlessly charming in a simple white top that hugged his toned frame just right, paired with s
Pushing open the door, I was immediately greeted by the warm, fragrant scent of flowers. It was almost overwhelming at first, like stepping into a garden that had been bottled up and released all at once. The air was thick with the sweet, earthy smell of roses, the crisp freshness of lilies, and something sugary that I couldn’t quite place. It reminded me of spring mornings, where everything felt hopeful and alive.The shop itself was cozy and inviting, with sunlight streaming through the large windows, casting soft patterns on the wooden floor. Bouquets of flowers filled nearly every available space, arranged in tall glass vases and wrapped in brown paper tied with twine. The colors were almost too much to take in at once—bright red roses with their velvety petals, soft pastel pink peonies, sunny yellow sunflowers, and delicate white lilies. Even the shelves were decorated with smaller potted plants, succulents, and cacti, their deep green hues providing a nice contrast to the more v
I decided to call Elliot to see if we could meet now. My fingers felt a little shaky as I pulled my phone out and dialed his number. I wasn’t sure why I was nervous—maybe because I hadn’t really made any new friends lately, and he seemed like such a nice guy. I took a deep breath as the phone rang, trying to calm myself down.After a few rings, Elliot picked up. “Hello?” His voice sounded cheerful, and I couldn’t help but feel a little relieved.“Hey, Elliot, it’s me,” I said, trying to sound upbeat. “I was just wondering if we could meet now to check out the flower designs?”“Oh, absolutely!” he replied, sounding genuinely happy to hear from me. “I’ve got the arrangements ready for you to take a look at. Are you free now?”“Yeah, I’m already in town,” I answered. “Just tell me where your flower shop is, and I’ll head over.”“Great! It’s called ‘Bloom & Bliss,’ on Maple Street. You can’t miss it—the sign’s painted bright yellow, and there’s a big display of sunflowers outside,” he exp
Finally, he stepped aside, and I hurried past him, not daring to look back. I needed to get as far away from him as possible before I completely broke down. My chest felt tight, and my eyes stung, but I refused to cry in front of him.As I walked down the path leading away from the house, I forced myself to take deep, calming breaths. The morning air was cool against my skin, and the soft rustling of leaves overhead was almost comforting. I needed this moment of peace, away from the tension and the ache in my chest. I tried to focus on the steady rhythm of my footsteps, one after the other, moving me farther from the mansion and all the confusion that came with it.My thoughts kept drifting back to Kai, no matter how hard I tried to push them away. I couldn’t get the image of him and Zara out of my head. The way he kissed her with so much passion made my heart ache. I bit my lip to stop the tears that threatened to fall. I didn’t want to cry anymore. I was tired of feeling hurt and co
When I got to Kai’s room, I hesitated at the door for a moment. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting—maybe to find him there, waiting to talk, or maybe still asleep. But when I pushed the door open, the room was empty. A strange mix of relief and disappointment washed over me. I let out a small sigh and stepped inside, gently closing the door behind me.The room looked just as I had left it earlier. The bed was still a bit messy, the sheets rumpled from where I had been lying down. The faint scent of Kai lingered in the air—a comforting, familiar smell that made my chest tighten. I didn’t want to think about him right now, but it was hard not to when everything in this room reminded me of him.I walked over to the window, pushing the curtains aside to let the sunlight in. The morning light spilled across the floor, brightening up the space. I glanced out at the view of the garden below, watching the breeze make the flowers sway. It was peaceful—too peaceful compared to the storm of emot
We continued walking along the path, taking our time. The sun was climbing higher in the sky, warming the cool morning air, and the smell of pine and wildflowers filled the breeze. I couldn’t help but feel a bit lighter after talking to Mer, even though the ache in my chest was still there. Just having her by my side made things a little more bearable.The sound of birds singing softly in the trees seemed to match the rhythm of our steps. I noticed how the sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Mer and I walked in comfortable silence for a while, both of us just soaking in the calm of the morning.Then my phone buzzed, startling me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out of my pocket, glancing at the screen. The name "Elliot" flashed across it, and I hesitated for a second before answering.“Hello?” I greeted, trying to keep my voice steady despite the unexpected call.“Hey, Lily! It’s Elliot,” came his cheerful, upbeat voice. I could almost pictur
Lily’s POV But then I had seen him kissing Zara. My heart had shattered right there in his office, and I couldn’t shake the image from my mind. It hurt so much. I felt embarrassed, stupid even, for letting myself hope that Kai might choose me over her.Mer was still looking at me, her eyes full of concern. I bit my lip and shook my head slowly. “It’s nothing,” I whispered, but the crack in my voice gave me away.Mer’s expression softened, and she pulled me into a tight hug, not saying anything. I closed my eyes, leaning into her, grateful for the comfort even if I couldn’t tell her the whole truth.It was too much. I felt like such a fool for thinking Kai could ever put me first. Of course, he still loved Zara. She was everything I wasn’t—beautiful, confident, and most of all, someone Kai had always protected. I was just... there.I couldn’t help the small sob that escaped, and Mer rubbed my back soothingly. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “You don’t have to talk about it if you’re not re